March Forward, Write Now

by Lilka Raphael @Lilka_Raphael

“You fail only if you stop writing.” – Ray Bradbury

Many writers measure their progress based on goals or resolutions. Almost a quarter into 2025, many resolutions are now a distant memory. However, one way to gauge success is by utilizing a quarterly countdown. By the end of March, I take inventory of what I’ve written (and have yet to write) so that I can recalibrate and target specific outcomes for June.

March is early enough in the year that if we haven’t accomplished much, we don’t feel that bad, yet it motivates us to get moving. If you have vowed to complete a project by the end of this year, have you started? For some authors, this equates to drafting twenty-five percent of a manuscript by the end of this month. For others, it may require completing a first round of edits. 

If you haven’t written as much as you’d like, identify why. Writing is often a second job for many of us. Family obligations also disrupt the best of plans. Yet, we can’t achieve all that we would like if we don’t manage the things that keep us from writing. Is there anything you need to omit from your schedule? The most common obstacle I encounter is time. I eventually shifted my writing from late nights to early mornings to gain more of it. Routines that once produced multiple pages may no longer do so. It may take a few changes to determine what works for you in this season. If necessary, ask other authors how they stay on task. We’ve all had to adjust at some point to keep it going.

Maybe you need a bit of motivation. With conference season gearing up, explore something new. Step out and find out what’s trending. Interacting with editors, agents, and fellow authors is one of the most enjoyable aspects of a writing career. Professional relationships can solidify objectives and help us define our goals. Online workshops are also viable options. Whatever educational pursuits we choose should complement our current projects and provide insight for the goals we have already identified. 

Stagnation defeats productivity. It can be incredibly difficult to regain momentum when we pause for extensive periods. Yet, pursuing agents, interviewing illustrators, or researching an idea all count toward progress. Grudgingly allocating an hour per day (or week) can yield more pages than we expect. When we consistently write, our imagination does the rest. Great ideas find us when we habitually look for them.

If you’ve been uninspired and dormant all winter, get moving again. Connect with other writers or do whatever inspires you to play with words. The most precious commodity we have is time. Let’s invest it wisely in 2025.

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,

Philippians 3:13 NKJV

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A Florida native, Lilka Finley Raphael has been a licensed pharmacist for over thirty years. Her passions for writing, gardening, and photography prompted her to share her experiences and life lessons on her blogs B Is for Blessed and God, autism, & me. You can learn more about her at lilkaraphael.com

Lilka’s greatest achievements are her two adult sons who have flown the nest. Happily married for thirty-two years, she lives east of Atlanta with her husband, Rod. They now share their home with two German Shepherds—Holly and Ivy—and one naughty kitty, Moxie.